Table, bench, and the like



Dec. 3, 1940. s, KALlsz 2,223,618

TABLE, BENCH, AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 22, 193s gli Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tables and benches and the like. More especially, it has for an object the provision of an irnproved table or bench of the collapsible type.

Another object has been the provision of a device of the kind in which the legs will have the advantage of folding and unfolding easily and quickly.

Another object has been to make such provision as has been described with a minimum of parts for wear and repair and to eliminate the loss of parts.

Another object has been to provide a device of the character described which can be manufactured inexpensively and assembled easily and collapsed into a minimumv of space.

A further object has been to provide a table or bench of the kind described which will be sturdy and free from movement with the legs remaining in place and with no danger of the legs folding accidentally. In hotels and restaurants, etc., where tables may have to be set up and taken down quickly, it is highly desirable to have sturdy tables of the collapsible type which,

in folded condition, will occupy only a minimum of space so that a great number can be accommodated in a unit of space. It is also desirable to have a table which can be folded and unfolded quickly with no danger of collapsing accidentally.

These and Aother advantages I have accomplished according to the principles of my invention.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section;

Fig. 2 is the same except that the table is collapsed;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the collapsed table;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of the clamping means on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on the line l-l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the link connection to the leg member;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of one of the sliding blocks; and

Fig. 10 is a View of one of the operating links.

Referring more particularly to the drawing in which I have selected a preferred form for illustrating the principle of my invention, there is shown a table top l5 having supporting strips or transverse cleats I6 across the underside or beneath the top l5 adjacent to or spaced from the Vends thereof as clearly shown in Figs. l and 3. Foldable or collapsible legs l1 and i8 are connected at points spaced from their upper edges or ends at their inner sides or faces to the strips I6 of the table top adjacent the outer sides and bottom and lower outer corners of the strips by means of hinges I9. Mounted on the inner side of each leg Il intermediate its height is a plate 20 having an apertured ear 2|. Adapted toextend through the ear 2| is an extension or right angularly bent end or terminal 22 of a link 23, the extension having a hole for a cotter pin to secure the extension in the ear. The link 23 has at its other end an extension 24 having a hole for a cotter pin for securing the other endvof the link, as will hereinafter more fully appear. A similar link 25 is provided with similar extensions at each end with holes for cotter pins and the link 25 is adapted to be secured to the leg i8 at one end.

The other end of the link 23 is adapted to have its extension 24 extend through the opening in an apertured ear 2S integrally formed on a V- shaped sliding block 2l 'clearly shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9. The V-shaped block is adapted to slide in a dovetailed channel trackway 28 provided with inclined sides 29 integrally formed with a base 30, clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The base 39 has an aperture and is secured by means of screws 3| vto the table top l5. The sliding block 2l has a threaded aperture 32 into which a screw 33 is adapted to thread. A clamping plate 34 having inclined sides 35 has an aperture 35 through which a screw 33 extends, there being also provided wing nut 3l threadable on the screw 33 to clamp or bind the plates 34 and blocks 21 against movement when the table is extended or collapsed to prevent accidental fold- `ing or unfolding thereof as well as to permit tightening of the parts: at any intermediate point therebetween. The screw 33 is upset on the top as well as the bottom as at 38 to prevent it from being disengaged from the block. I

It is also to be understood that there is provided another block 39 similar to the block 2l. The slidingv block 39 is in alignment with the block 21 as it is slidable in the same trackway as the block 2l and has a similar ear 26 into which an extension 24 on one end of the rod 25 2 Y is adapted to extend, the other end of the rod having its extension 22 adapted to extend through an ear 2| on another plate 2D mounted intermediately on the inner face of the opposite leg I8. There is this difference however in the position of the blocks; to-Wit, they are reversed so that the portions of the blocks adjacent the ears are adjacent each other whereas in each case the portion of the blocks with the Wing nuts are remote from each other. It will be noted from Fig. 9 that the ears 25 are located slightly off of the longitudinal center or adjacent one side of the block to permit roo-m for the links to lie at and not interfere with each other as will be seen also from Fig. 3 illustrating how the ears are staggered by reversing the blocks. By this arrangement also when the table is in collapsed condition, the clamping element is in the position shown in Fig. 3 located between the upper crossed portions, or in the crotch of each leg and the supporting strip, there being no interference with the lay of the legs on the part of the clampingwing nut, etc. It will also be seen that by the arrangement I have provided, there is no interference with the legs on the part of the links and ears on the blocks which lie on the other side of the crotch of the legs.

In operation, the legs may be swung outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the blocks will obviously control and limit the outward movement of the legs particularly in combination with the meeting faces of the underside of the table and the tops of the legs. If desired, as shown in Fig. l, a small space may be left between the confronting edges of the blocks Z'Iand 39 to allow for wear and tear of the parts. When the legs have been unfolded to the position shown in Fig. 1, the wing nuts may be operated to clamp the block in position to prevent further movement of the blocks and legs. When it is desired to collapse the table, the wing nuts may be unscrewed and the legs folded and when folded will rest in folded condition with the clamping wing nuts out of interference without projecting or between the thickness or plane of the legs. It will thus be seen that I have provided acollapsible table of the kind described having legs `which fold and unfold easily with a minimum 'of partsand no parts Ato be lost. I. have also provided the.V same in a way which will insure the table legs beingkept properly upright and free from movement.

The invention also has the advantage of providing for simple collapsbility in a minimum of space.

While I have shown my invention for purposes of illustration applied to a table, it should be distinctlyand clearly understood that this illustration is merely a matter of choice and that the principles of my invention are just as applicable to benches as to tables.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction selected for illustration of the principles of my invention, and fol` carrying the same into effect, the same is capable of variation and modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the kind described, legs, a table or bench-like member pivotally supported by said legs, a plate with an apertured ear mounted on each of said legs, a channel trackway with inclined sides mounted on the underside of said table, slidable blocks with inclined sides and provided with apertures and ears adapted to slide in said trackway, a clamping plate, screw and nutV means near the outer ends of the blocks engaged through the plate and with the blocks for clamping the plates and slidable blocks in a denite position, and links disposed side by side and crossing one another for operatively connecting the ears of the legs and blocks to permit folding and unfolding the legs.

2. In a device of the kind described, legs, a horizontal supporting member, means for controlling the folding and unfolding of the legs of the supporting member, saidmeans including tracks with guides rigidly mounted on Athe under surface of the supporting member and slidable elements in the form of blocksv in alignment and oppositely slidable in the guides, links detachably and pivotally connected td the slidable elements and to the vlegs at an intermediate point, clamping screws carried bythe slidable elements, a plate on each of the screws beneath'theguides and slidable elements and overlapping the'sides of the tracks to close vthe guides, Vand nutsyon the screws to bindingly engage said parts and clamp them in adjusted position against movement at any point along the guides. i. i

. j Y V STEVE.` KALISZ. 

